FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REGARDING FATHER MAREK BOZEK
AND SAINT STANISLAUS KOSTKA PARISH
ST. LOUIS
The Archdiocese of St. Louis has been informed by the Most Reverend John J. Leibrecht, Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, that Father Marek Bozek, a priest of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, has, without Bishop Leibrecht’s permission, left his assignment as associate pastor at Saint Agnes Cathedral in Springfield and is moving to St. Louis, where he has been hired by the board of directors of the civil corporation of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish.
“I have suspended Father Bozek from priestly ministry for leaving his assignment without permission,” Bishop Leibrecht wrote earlier today. “He is no longer authorized by me to function in union with the Church as a priest. His priestly faculties have been withdrawn, and he no longer has the status of a priest in good standing. Father Bozek’s decision to ignore the promise of obedience he made at the time of his ordination is hurtful to all of us in this diocese, especially to his brother priests and me.”
In virtue of his suspension by Bishop Leibrecht, Father Bozek has no authority to function as a priest in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Archbishop Burke is at present considering what further canonical action to take. In the meantime, he is compelled to remind Catholics of the Archdiocese of St. Louis that to participate knowingly and willingly in the celebration of the Mass by a suspended priest is gravely sinful.
“I am deeply saddened by this action, which causes further damage to the unity of the Church, not only here in St. Louis, but in the neighboring Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau as well,” Archbishop Burke said today. “We continue to pray and remain hopeful for a resolution to the situation at Saint Stanislaus Kostka Parish. We also pray that Father Bozek may be reconciled with his Bishop.”
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Source (PDF file).
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